MINK Vinyl & CDs

Review: Since making his debut back in the early 1990s, Carlton Jumel Smith has periodically popped up on a variety of soulful house and modern soul releases. Here the little-known vocalist takes a different approach, re-casting himself as a throaty, James Brown influenced '70s soul singer. He's at his heartfelt, full-throttle best on "Can't Love You Any More", a deliciously heavy and authentic chunk of Southern-fried deep soul complete with additional falsetto parts from fellow singer Pratt. The key to the track's success is the fantastic backing provided by Cold Diamond & Mink. Proof is provided on the flip via the band's effortlessly good instrumental take.

Review: A fresh record from interstellar voyager of cosmic soul Jimi Tenor, who finally lands his spaceship with perfectly balanced descent onto Timmion Records' landing pad. The first in an apparent series, the Finnish saxophonist and other-instrumentalist here delivers Is There Love In Outer Space?, a spaced-out album session recorded in collaboration with fellow virtuosi Cold Diamond and Mink. At once cosmically expansive and lounge-ifically chilled - a hard balance to strike - the album hears Tenor transcend the patent Sun Ra inspiration for something beyond. Whether by way of its wowwing surfy licks on both parts of 'Gaia Sunset', or the orbital funk of 'Orbital Telesto', we're sure Tenor's latest will both simultaneously uproot and relax even the most fierily grounded of souls.